 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Three Amigos!
- Review Date: October 30, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Comedy
- 1986
Common Sense Media says
Spoofy send up of Western films is OK for mature tweens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the cracking sounds in this spoofy comedy aren't fireworks -- they're gun fire. Much of the action is played for humor, but in true Western-style shootouts, guys get shot and drop from rooftops and balconies with regularity, although without graphic consequences (no prolonged suffering or blood). Relationships between the heroes and they women they meet don't go beyond kissing, but the bad guy's desription of "forcing a woman's flower open" may give some viewers pause. Several scenes depict a dirty barroom filled with violent men drinking tequila.
What's the story?
It's the 1920s, and the THREE AMIGOS -- Dusty (Chevy Chase), Lucky (Steve Martin), and Ned (Martin Short) -- are silent film stars who've been successful in a series of films casting them as crusaders for justice in the Wild West. When a villager of Santa Poco, Mexico -- desperate to find protection for her village -- stumbles into a movie showing in a small town, she confuses the men on the screen with the characters that they're playing. After summoning them to Santa Poco, the boys are met by El Guapo and his gang of bandits, and the amigos quickly become aware that the violent display the bandits put on is the real thing.
Is it any good?
Three Amigos is a truly inspired, and still somewhat light, comedy. It's chock full of laughs at every turn, with the Hollywood-raised Amigos constantly proving how much difference there is between film stars playing roles and men playing out those roles in real life. Although they're stars in the silent era of film, there are a few memorable musical sequences, including the opening theme song, a precious rendition of "My Little Buttercup" in front of an angry barroom crowd, and a campfire sing-a-long in which the horses and other desert animals join in as the chorus.
In keeping with Westerns, men are shot and killed, but these deaths are quick and cartoonish with none of the major characters being affected. For those families with some interest in action films, particularly older Westerns, this film will be pure pleasure as it makes light of the tricks always employed by those movies.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the difference between violence in comedies and in action movies. Which has more impact? Why?
Why do the villagers think that the amigos are real gunfighters?
How do the amigos' attitudes change when they realize that the bandits
are shooting real bullets at them?Is it believable that the amigos are able
to pull the villagers together to stand up against the bandits in the
final showdown? Is believability even necessary for a comedy?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Love this oldie, but watch the language
Another great old movie that I watched growing up, but really this is for the older kids. I often caution parents that there are many great movies we remember that preceded the PG-13 rating. This is one of them that would probably qualify because of the language. I counted 1 GD, 3 hells, 1 ass, 1 s-bomb, and a few D's thrown in there. They even threw in a male anatomy word (d---) which my kids are not allowed to use. Top that with a few sexually explicit jokes - one about foreplay and another about a "male" plane with male parts hanging down and it makes for a dicey dialog. Other than the language, the violence is so lighthearted and comical that you bearly think about it being real. It is a comedy after all. My advice is to preview it first, particularly before letting younger kids watch it. My 13 year old thought it was just as campy as I did back in the day. There are some classic funny lines that I still use with my workmates!
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AGE
my favorite movie ever
This is my favorite movie ever!!! It's hilarious!!! Three hollywood western movie actors find themselves in a real western hero-villian situation because of a telegram mishap.
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Kid, 11 years old
December 31, 2010
AGE
Great film!
Very funny, liked it a lot. Good fun for the whole family.
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AGE
beware of the word foreplay
I made the choice to watch this movie with my 11 year old because of this site saying it was age appropriate for my child. Although we both enjoyed the movie, I was a bit put off at one conversation that took place mentioning "do you know what foreplay is?" and the responds was "no" then the other character replies "then dont worry about it cause neither does he" this made my 11 curious to the meaning of the word "foreplay" and made for an uncomfortable conversation.
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| Topics: | friendship, misfits and underdogs |
| Studio: | Warner Home Video |
| Director: | Marilyn Agrelo |
| Cast: | Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Steve Martin |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 105 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 1, 1986 |
| DVD release date: | November 9, 1999 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | language |
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